Kilross National School originated as a hedge school, located in an old barn near the main road near the house belonging to Chris and Margaret Kelly. Master Roger McGoldrick taught there before the first national school was built in Water Lane in 1870, opposite the present Kilross NS. Mr McGoldrick was replaced as principal by Anthony Foody who taught in the old building until the new and present building was built in Kilross in 1909. The school building was followed by the erection of a teacher’s residence in 1912. The school had two classrooms, outdoor dry toilets and a capacity for 60 pupils.
Anthony Foody continued as principal there until 1946 when he was succeeded by Mr Vincent Kelly (1946-1980), then by Rose Atkins (1980 -2002). On Mrs Atkins retirement in 2002 Bernadette Ryan became the principal, and in 2013 Ms Lorna Healy became Principal. In February 2016 Mr David Gallagher took on the role of Principal. In 2019 Ms Róisín Coughlan became principal.